MFL MarMac girls extend winning streak
Senior Kayden Gillitzer had a huge night against Kee, sinking four three-pointers, which accounted for 12 of her 18 points. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Hannah Bogdonovich sends a pass to teammate Brooklynn Moon in the Bulldogs’ Jan. 26 victory.
Carlie Jones readies for a shot under the basket against Kee.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The MFL MarMac girls basketball team snagged three more victories last week, over Kee, Postville and Crestwood. The Bulldogs have now won five in a row following a two-game lull earlier in January.
The Jan. 26 match-up with Kee was the closest game of the week, with the Bulldogs eking it out 56-55. The team started slow, trailing the Hawks 17-11 after the first quarter, but evened the score at 32 by halftime. The Bulldogs edged ahead 46-44 by the end of the third quarter, then held Kee off in the final period. Ashley Shaw put the Bulldogs up by one point with around 15 seconds remaining. Riley Moreland then had a big block with four seconds left on the clock, as the Hawks attempted to inbound the ball for a final shot.
MFL MarMac had one of its best shooting nights of the season, at 44 percent. The team also hit six of 13 shots from behind the arc. Kee managed to keep it close by making 15 of 23 free throw attempts. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, got to the line just nine times—making six free throws.
Senior Kayden Gillitzer had a huge night for the Bulldogs, sinking four three-pointers, which accounted for 12 of her 18 points. She also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Moreland added 14 points, along with five rebounds, a steal and a team-high four assists and two blocks. Lakota Morrissey chipped in seven points, two assists, a rebound and a steal, while Brooklynn Moon picked up five points, four rebounds and an assist off the bench.
MFL MarMac had an easier time Jan. 29, against Postville. The Bulldogs raced out to a 24-6 advantage in the first quarter alone, a lead they upped to 50-15 at the break. The team then held the Pirates to just eight points in each of the final two quarters, en route to a 72-31 victory.
The Bulldogs continued their hot streak from three-point range, draining seven of 18 attempts. Moon had three of those, adding to an 11-point night off the bench. She had five rebounds, four assists and a steal, as well. Gillitzer’s stat line included 13 points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist, while Moreland added 13 points, four rebounds, four steals and an assist. Miranda Lang tallied 11 points, four assists, four steals and a block.
MFL MarMac wrapped up the week Jan. 30, with a 51-36 win over Crestwood. The Bulldogs were again buoyed by a hot start, leading 18-6 at the close of the first period. The Cadets narrowed the margin to 26-19 by halftime, though, thanks to a 13-8 second quarter run. Things got even tighter in the third, as MFL MarMac clung to just a 32-28 lead. However, the Bulldogs upped their game in the final period, out-scoring the Cadets 19-8 to win by 15 points.
Crestwood struggled to contain Moreland, who cranked out 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks—all team highs. She also had two assists and two steals. Gillitzer picked up eight points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, while Lang finished the game with seven points, six steals, three rebounds and two assists. Morrissey added six points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal, and Shaw had six points, three rebounds and two steals.
The wins improved MFL MarMac’s overall record to 13-4 and 11-2 in the Upper Iowa Conference. This week, the Bulldogs will head to Central on Tuesday, Feb. 2, then Clayton Ridge on Friday, Feb. 5.
